It took a little while, but the Rockslide finally packed up what they deemed necessary and moved on. They were courteous enough to leave some food and other amenities for the Battle Foals; even though all of it was probably stolen, the foals were grateful nonetheless and said they’d make good use of it. All the while, the foals kept a close eye on Bullseye, who just angrily stared at the ground with Shadow Shroud and Zebota on either side of her.
Once all was said and done, Quantum Tech went back outside to check her mech suit and Shrapnel to make sure that the Rockslide didn’t try to pillage them….not that they’d be stupid enough to try and wrangle a timberwolf, as she saw. Everypony else stayed in the inner sanctum to deal with their berserk archer. “Bullseye, what was all of that about?” Fire Fight asked firmly.
Bullseye barely lifted her head to glare at him. “You said to kick their a****, so that’s what I f****** did.” She muttered.
“Bullseye, don’t even try to dodge the question here! You went on blood-driven rampage and literally almost killed them.” Spiral Galaxy said. “Mind showing at least some remorse?”
“Tch. Whaddya want me to do? Send them all apology cards?” Bullseye hissed. Despite her words, her aggression seemed to lighten and be replaced by a slightly more solemn tone.
“Assuming you truly regret your actions.” Zebota said.
“I warned you about not becoming like your parents. Now do you see the consequences of spreading that infection?” Shroud said.
“Leave those dips**** outta this.” Bullseye said.
“She’s right, sister.” Greensprout said. “Why would you want to spread the horrible pain that was inflicted on you?”
“Well aren’t you Equestria’s biggest hypocrite?” Bullseye sneered. “You’re passive, but you decided to hook up with ponies who do nothing but fight? I bet you just wanted some thrills with how boring a monk’s life must be.” Quantum Tech had reentered the inner room as she finished.
“Don’t mistake us for devils like you!” Air Slash said.
“Air Slash, please.” Greensprout looked up at him with pleading eyes, asking him to calm down, which he did. “Bullseye, I may not enjoy combat the way the others do, but I’m allowing this journey to be a learning experience. I want to let the unknown teach me, and I hope you’re willing to do the same. There’s far more to this world than simply pain.”
“Hmph! Well, sorry for not knowing that sooner!” Bullseye scoffed. Her dominant stance didn’t last for much longer, and her solemn tone seemed to overtake her. The foals could tell that part of her was trying to feel guilty, but her displaced pride just wouldn’t allow it.
“Man, y’all need to calm down a li’l.” Turf War said. “I told y’all dat- well, I only Spiral, but look. She musta holding all dat in for years. Where she s’posed to let it out? It had to go somewhere. I’m just sayin’.”
“Yeah….you did say that.” Spiral said.
“It’s a shinin’ miracle she didn’t explode sooner.” Kickback said.
“I’m such a horrible friend…<sob><sob>…I should’ve exploded with her so we’d be explosion buddies!!” Crazylocks sobbed.
Everypony bar Greensprout rolled their eyes, and Bullseye just eyed her. “Shut your face, you freak…” Bullseye mumbled.
“R-Regardless, I can’t just let this slide, Bullseye. Give Quantum Tech your bow.” Fire Fight said. Bullseye glanced up in surprise. “Actually…no. Give it to Air Slash. Quantum can take your arrows.”
“I’ll gladly take them.” Quantum said.
Bullseye threw away any snark she might’ve have had left and clutched her bow. “N-No! You keep your hooves off of it!” she demanded.
“Worry not, Bullseye. We’re not going to break it or anything. You told me how much you treasure it. But with it, we both know that you’re dangerous, and it looks like you’ve still got some steam to blow off, so just hand it to the colt with the swords.” Shroud said.
“N-NO!!” Bullseye was glaring angrily, but she looked like she was about to curl up into a ball.
“More fightin’ ain’t gonna make the bulls calm down, Ms. Bullseye.” Kickback said.
“You no longer have to live in fear, sister. We’re your friends, and we’re the exact opposite of your parents. So, please put your trust in us.” Greensprout said.
Bullseye angrily, yet shyly glared up at Air Slash, who looked about as reluctant as she was despite having far more composure. It was true that they gave her a chance to escape her parents, and the fact that none of them had hit her yet gave her some reason to listen. “Wh-What are you gonna do with it?”
“Hmph. I personally see no reason to aid in arming a beast.” Air Slash said.
“Air Slash!” Greensprout said. “How can you call her that when this state of mind was imposed onto her? Do as you preach and allow her to become a better pony by learning from her pain!”
Having Greensprout reprimand him completely shattered his prideful composure, and Air Slash seemed to comply out of some kind of panic. “Y-You’re right. That was…..heartless of me. I apologize.” He said. He cleared his throat. “That said, I’m afraid bows are not my area of expertise, so I don’t think I can do too much to boost its parameters, by I might have a little idea.”
Bullseye was suddenly very curious when she heard Air Slash’s words and eased up. “You mean….Yer gonna make it tougher? I thought I was in hot water.”
“You are, Bullseye. I’m gonna have you clean up the debris from that explosion you caused, and I’m not gonna hear any complaining about it. Got it? I’m not gonna try and sugarcoat your actions today, but we’re not going to abandon you either.” Fire Fight said. “But if you go on another bloodlust, you’re not getting that bow back.”
Bullseye lowered her head and replaced her glare with pouting eyes. “Yeah, yeah….I got it…” she muttered.
Seeing that she was willing to accept responsibility, however reluctantly, Fire Fight loosened his firm expression. “Ok.” He then looked at Greensprout. “Can I ask you to keep an eye on her?”
Greensprout nodded. “Yes.”
“Are you certain? I….I apologize once more, but I’m not sure I could feel comfortable leaving you alone with her in case she got violent again.” Air Slash said. Bullseye just looked away from him.
Greensprout smiled. “Thank you, Air Slash, but I have faith in Bullseye. I don’t feel that she will suddenly lash out at me.” She said. Bullseye couldn’t help but to glance up at her a little upon hearing that.
“Well….if you insist.” Air Slash said. He fluttered over to Bullseye to take her bow, and the half-blind berserker stared at him for a short moment before reluctantly handing him her bow.
A pleading aura barely peeked out of her glare as she gave the samurai her most prized possession. “Be careful with this!.....G-Got it?”
Air Slash nodded. “Of course.” He said. He made his way back to the barracks area where he remembered seeing a series of smithing tools likely meant for the bandits’ digging equipment.
Before she could even ask, Bullseye took off her quiver and handed it to Quantum Tech. “I don’t know what the hell you think you’re gonna do with these, but hey. Doctor’s orders.” She growled. Quantum Tech would’ve replied, but Bullseye just walked away and began looking around for something she could use to sweep up the place.
As they watched her, the foals couldn’t help but to feel a little sorrowful. They probably should’ve expected her to act more aggressively than they would’ve liked in combat, but not on this level. Deep down, they knew that they couldn’t really blame her. She more of a victim than anything else and until now, never had a chance to relieve any of her stress. “Quantum…..what’s your take?” Fire Fight asked.
Quantum sighed. “I have no way of knowing if she’s truly released the rest of her bottled anger, but she’s not insane. Just…..disturbed.”
“Understatement of the year…” Shroud muttered.
“As with Crazylocks, her time spent with us will heal her overtime, so we must give her our patience as well as our guidance.” Zebota said.
“Word…” Turf War muttered. Thinking more about it, he could somewhat understand Bullseye’s anger. He and Officer Curfew were bitter rivals when it came to upholding justice…..at least that’s what he thought until he discovered his true nature. He’d felt betrayed, and in a fit of anger, he cracked the bad egg without a hint of remorse. If Fire Fight and Shadow Shroud weren’t there to console him, he might not have been able to deal with his feelings then.
They all decided to walk out of the room so that they could leave Greensprout and Bullseye alone. Zebota wanted to check on Shrapnel anyway. The tension seemed to loosen more and more as they traveled down the tunnel away from the inner sanctum. “What are you gonna do with those arrows, Quantum?” Spiral asked.
“I’m not exactly sure just yet, but I might have an idea or two. However, Zebota, may I ask for your assistance?” Quantum said.
“Let me see to Shrapnel first, and then I shall accompany you.” Zebota said.
“Fair enough.” Quantum said. She then looked at Kickback. “And also, would you give me your guns, darling? I think I know what I want to do with them at last.”
“Surely.” Kickback unloaded his dual revolvers and handed them to Quantum. “Alright, you two behave yourselves fer Ms. Quantum tech now.”
Quantum giggled. “Thank you, sugar pie!” she cooed. Kickback just looked away from her and sighed heavily. Quantum Tech made her way to the storage room to start her experimenting while the other went outside for some fresh air.
*****
Bullseye managed to find a broom and started sweeping up the splinters and soot that spilled all over the floor in the explosion she caused. The only thing that kept her from coughing from it getting in her throat was her ability to blow it away with her wings. She could feel Greensprout’s eyes on her, and it annoyed her to no end that she of all ponies was supervising her.
Even if Greensprout knew that Bullseye wasn’t fond of her, she knew that Fire Fight trusted her selfless caring for others. Not only that, but seeing the extent of the damage dealt to Bullseye’s spirit only further motivated her to help her fix it. It was going to be a long and bumpy road, but she endured discovering her deceased parents; she was ready. “Sister, would you like some help?”
Bullseye looked back at her whilst sweeping. “1. Quit calling me that. 2. No. I can do this s*** myself.” She sighed. “I kinda have to anyway.”
Greensprout let her coldness blow over and giggled. “Turf War was right, wasn’t he?”
“About what?”
“You really did just need to let that all out, didn’t you? Do you feel better?” Greensprout asked.
“Tch. Yes, ‘mommy’.” Bullseye scoffed.
That was all the answer Greensprout needed. “Well, I’m glad.” Bullseye just blew her off and put her focus back into sweeping.
“Not like you’re much better. Sounded like you were about as sick as I was with those…What did you call ‘em? Fallen?” Bullseye said.
Greensprout thought back to what was likely the lowest point in her life. Having never experienced feelings of rage on that level before, she didn’t really know how to respond, so she just let her instincts take charge. Needless to say, she immediately regretted that choice, but her new friends did much to help her pick herself back up and give her a new view on life. “Anger is indeed a natural thing, Bullseye, and I really shouldn’t hark on you for feeling angry towards your parents. You may view being too happy as naïve and foolish, but what would that say about too much anger?”
Bullseye was much like Shadow Shroud in the respect that she tended not the show much emotion….when she wasn’t pissed about something, but Greensprout could notice a hint of epiphany in Bullseye’s expression. “Alright, alright. You’re right, I’m wrong. Happy now?” Bullseye said.
Greensprout giggled. “I’m just happy that you're willing to be reasonable.”
“Eh, shut up.” Bullseye muttered as she continued to sweep. She was meticulous enough to put everything in one pile back in a corner so that it could be more easily managed later if need be. Any conversation she’d have with Greensprout along with the sound of her broom’s bristles abrading against the floor were the only sounds keeping her mind focused.
Apart from that, Bullseye thought back to what Rocky Mountain had said earlier, and creased a little smile. “Huh…‘Blood Cupid’…..A little harsh, but….I kinda like it.”